The Chinese claim to have used, over two millennia ago, green bamboo shoots stuffed with sulphur, charcoal and saltpeter which, when tossed into the fire, would produce loud snapping noises and a variety of coloured flame. This provided the illusion of fiery dragons to drive away evil spirits

Italian pyrotechnicians developed variations which spread across Europe for popular use in conjunction with celebrations for both private anniversaries and public events. Particularly popular has been New Year´s Eve for which municipalities have spent enormous sums to compete in presenting the world´s best spectacle.

However, what was once viewed as an innocuous entertainment, is now the target of environmentalists who claim that fireworks represent one of the worst pollutants.

The combustion of the chemicals contained in artifices such as rockets, St. Catharine´s wheels and flash bangers releases a highly toxic dust consisting of many metals, sulphur dioxide, nitric oxide and other fine particles. This is dangerous by ingestion in animals and also penetrates water supplies as both land and waterways are contaminated. Among the several diseases which can be spread is thyroid deficiency.

The high decibel blasts of noise which accompany the OOHs , AAHs and WOWs of viewers can have a disastrous effect upon the audibility of domestic pets and wildlife. Disorientation is suffered particularly by birds and can cause the complete abandonment of nests during the mating season.

Naturally, public reaction to legislative proposals for controlling emissions by limiting “spectacles” to only government control has met with contemptuous deision. It is regarded as an unfounded attempt by “them” to take away a pleasurable practice in much the same way as proposals to restrict travel by jet and consumption of meat.

However, the substitution of light spectacles by using coordinated drones may ease the pain of not using pollutants to commemorate “Gunpowder, Treason and Plot”

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